Travel Back in Time at the Michigan Renaissance Festival!

Several regions of the country have Renaissance festivals, but as many connoisseurs will tell you, the Michigan Renaissance Festival is the real thing.

For 27 years the Michigan Renaissance Festival has been delighting many local and regional residents with an authentic taste of the 16th Century. Everything involving the cast is truly time-period bona fide, down to their intricate costumes and impeccable dialect. The festival is complete with a cast of nearly 200 professional actors, actresses, musicians. There is a royal court that includes the beautiful and elegant Queen Elizabeth, who stroll the grounds mingling with guests and awing children. The actors aren't the only ones in costume. This is a festival where everyone gets in the spirit of the 16th century. Many patrons also arrive enthusiastically in their own Renaissance attire.

There are numerous things that come to mind when thinking of the Michigan Renaissance Festival. The armored knights racing across Upson Downs Joust Field, clashing into each other in the thrilling full-contact joust competition. A brawl may ensue, making it difficult for spectators to predict which knight will be the victor of the intense battle. The enormous, smoked turkey legs that visitors devour right off the bone. The meat is lightly seasoned and cooked right over an open flame, making it a mouth-watering, filling choice. It is something that visitors try just to be able to say they did it, while enjoying every bite.

The festival is set as a 15 acre village, complete with 195 merchants selling authentic renaissance period merchandise, as well as hand-crafted jewelry, and other unique goods that could not be found elsewhere. There is a vast variety of continuous entertainment that the festival features on both its 15 stages and all throughout the walkways. There are dancers, jugglers, comedians, musicians, jugglers, sword sallowers, ventriloquists, and tons more.

The Michigan Renaissance Festival is a truly unique festival that Michiganders of all ages should experience. There's something for everyone to enjoy. Children are able to escape into their vast imagination into a time of queens, knights, princesses, elves, faeries, dragons, and magic. Adults are able to be exposed to a large variety of choices, including the Feast of Fantasy, an exquisite six-course meal in the castle complete with entertainment and souvenirs. There is also the Royal High Tea and the Renaissance Smoker.

The Michigan Renaissance Festival is located in Holly, Mich., off I-75, Grand Blanc exit 106, on Dixie Highway between Pontiac and Flint. It takes place for seven weekends, including Labor Day in 2006: August 19 - October 1, and September 29 for school day. The village gates open at 10 a.m., and closes at 7 p.m., rain or shine. Tickets cost $17.95 for adults, $8.95 for children 5-12 years old, free for children four years and younger. Discount tickets are available at Kroger's, Randy Wise Chevrolet, and ClicknPrint Tickets at www.michrenfest.com. Parking is free.